canon event

Meaning

This term originated from the movie 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' and quickly became a major social media trend. It refers to an unavoidable, often painful or awkward life experience that a person must go through because it is crucial for their personal growth and character development. It is typically used to describe situations where you should not interfere, because the person needs to learn the lesson themselves.

Examples

• Failing his first driving test was a canon event; he became a much safer driver after that.

  Failing his first driving test was a canon event; he became a much safer driver after that.

• I wanted to warn her about that toxic job, but I realized it was a canon event.

  I wanted to warn her about that toxic job, but I realized it was a canon event.

• Getting a terrible haircut in middle school is a universal canon event.

  Getting a terrible haircut in middle school is a universal canon event.

• Don't interfere—letting his cheap tent collapse in the rain is a canon event for his camping journey.

  Don't interfere—letting his cheap tent collapse in the rain is a canon event for his camping journey.

• We all had that phase where we thought we could change a bad partner; it's a canon event.

  We all had that phase where we thought we could change a bad partner; it's a canon event.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I had a canon event yesterday when I went to the supermarket and bought milk.

  ✓ I did a mundane errand yesterday when I went to the supermarket and bought milk.

  A 'canon event' is not just any routine or everyday activity. It must be a significant, character-shaping milestone or a difficult realization that changes who you are.

• ✗ I want to prevent his canon event so he doesn't get hurt.

  ✓ I want to warn him, but I know this is a canon event he needs to go through.

  The core concept of a 'canon event' is that it cannot and should not be prevented, as doing so would disrupt the person's necessary personal growth.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Getting your heart broken for the first time is a painful but necessary ___.

  💡 Think of a term for an unavoidable, character-building milestone.

  Show answer

  canon event

• I wanted to tell him that his business idea wouldn't work, but I knew it was his ___.

  💡 He needs to fail on his own to learn the lesson.

  Show answer

  canon event